The Netherlands is on the coast of the North Sea, part of the great plain of north and west Europe. The Netherlands is an area of 360 by 257 km, is low and flat except in Limburg, in the southeast, where some hills rise to 92 m. About half of the country is below sea level, making the famous Dutch dikes a requisite for the use of much of the land. Reclamation of land from the sea through dikes has continued through recent times. All drainage reaches the North Sea and the principal rivers - Rhine, Maas (Meuse) and Schelde - with their sources located outside the country.

The best time to go is from mid May to early October, when the day temperatures are generally in the 20-31° C, with nights about 10-20° C.  The tulip season runs from April to mid May. Though it can rain a bit then, you will need a sweater for the evenings all year round. The winters are long, damp and cold, daytime temperatures of 0-10° C and the nights are much colder.